Improved metallic concentrator



UNITED STATES PATEILOQICE@ ZEN/AS HEELER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVED METALLIC CONCENTRATOR.

Specification forming part of' Letters Patent No. 114,130, dated September G, 1854.

, State ot' California, have invented a new and Improved Concentrator for Concentrating Metallic Ores; and I do hereby declare that the within isa full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, making a part ofthis speciication.

My invention consists in providing a ma chine for concentrating metallic ores, but more especially arsenureted land sulphureted ores that are now washed away and wasted in the process of amalgamation for want ot' proper machinery adaptedto the purpose of separating the sand or dbris without carrying with it the sulphurets, which are usually the richer port-ions of the ore.

It is a well-known fact that thousands of tons of sulphurets or tailings from quartzmills, rich in gold and silver, are heaped up in the country awaiting` the advent ot' some invention whereby the sand and dbris can be washed away and the richer portions concentrated and shipped to points where it can be treated by processes known for extracting; metal from this class of ore. It is intended that by a proper use ot' my invention this long sought desideratum will be accomplished.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

The invention consists in the employment or use of a circular or other` shaped pan of any convenient sizesay about four feet in dialneter, and constructed of wood, iron, or other material, and having a journal under it for holding it in position and on which it vibrates.-

Thisjournal is hollow for the purpose of forming a discharge-pipe, B, or outlet for water and waste matter. The pan is about six inches deep at the outside, the bottom being two or three inches higher toward the center than it is at the periphery, With corrugations B radiating` from the center toward the circumference. These corrugations or elevations and depressions in the surface of the pan-bottom cause an undulatory or wave-like motion in the material that is being worked that ,greatly facilitates the settling of the heavy particles to the bottom. At the edge of the pan-bottom are two more grooves, K Kl, commencing at certain points and ruiming each way, and gradually deepening as they ap preach the outlet D. These grooves are for the purpose of collecting the heavy metals and conveying them to the lowest point in the pan. At the lowest part otl these grooves is an outlet for discharging the concentrated matter or dbris as fast as it accumulates in the pan. This discharge is regulated by a gate or slide, E, which can be adjusted to any required height to allow the proper amount of concentrated matter to pass out from under the waste matter in the pan. There is also a bowl or dish, F, connected with this lowest part ot' the grooves, for collecting any mercury or amalgam that may be contained in the material which is being worked. From the bottom of this bowl, is a discharge-pipe, F', to pass ott the surplus mercury from under the pulp in the pan as fast as it accumulates. This discharge-pipe is a little inclined downward from the bowl, and has a cock or plug at the end for the purpose of drawing olf the entire contents of the bowl and pipe. Near the end of this pipe F is a branch pipe rising upward to near the level of the top of the bowl, and bending` over to one side, and is always open for the discharge of the accumulatin g-mercury while the machineis perfornr. ing its work. On the under side ot the pan bottom are projections G Gr, which come in contact with stops which are bolted to the pan frame WV, for the purpose ot' arresting the motion of thc pan at the end ot' each vibration and giving it a sudden jar,which assists mate rially in concentrating the ores. There are also projections II on the edge ot' the pan, for the purpose ot' giving it the vibratory motion by means ot` the cam H, which revolves between them. The form of this cam is an involute whoseevoluteisacircle andis of aproper length to give the pan a motion of about ten degrees of vibration. This form of a cam gives the pan an. equal velocity in every part ot' itsv vibration causing it to start and stop so sud denly as to prevent the sand from packing on the bottom of the pan. Attached to the sides ofthe pan and near the top is a convex disk or screen-plate made of iron, copper, or other material, the upper surface of which is amalgamated for the purpose of collecting any amalgam or mercury which may be contained in the ore. At the center of this screen-plate is a circular bowl or dish for the purpose of equalizing the flow ot' matter over the surface of the plate A. This plate is perforated with small hol s "ear the lower part or outside edge to let the Water and ore pass down through into the. ctn :entrating-pan below it, and also serving as a screen or strainer to prevent any lage substance from getting into the pan, which might obstruct the discharge pipe or opening. The frame on which the pan stands can be made of 'square timber twelve or fourteen inches in diameter, of the proper length to accommodate the pan and cam-shaft. This t'mber rests on two transverse pieces about eight inches sguare, one placed near each end, to which it is fastened. There are two beari gs fastened to the timber for holding the cam-shaft in place. There are also two stops bolted to the side of this timber for the projections G G to strike against and to arrest the motion of the pan at each vibration just at the time the cam leaves it. The Weight of the pan and its contents is suspended by rods or chains, which are supported by some bearing I/ over the center of the pan, and which holds it in a horizontal position. By this means the pan runs with but very little fric tion on thejournal.

Each letter of reference denotes the corresponding parts in each ligure.

A is a sectional view of the amalgamated c'rcular screen-plate or disk, in the center of uhch is the bowl for equalizing the flow of the matter to all parts ofthe circumference of the pan. The edge orlowestpartof this plate is perforated with small holes.

B represents the corrugated surface of the pan; B', the inclined grooves at the sides of the pan; B, the outlet through the journal of the pan.

C is the bowl in the center of the screenplate with a piece of hard metal to prevent it wearing out.

D D is the outlet or discharge for the egress of heavy matter when the machine is in motion.

E E is the slide to regulate the discharge ot' concentrated matter from the pan. p

F is the discharge-pipe for the mercuryr 5 G G, lugs or stops on the bottom of the pan.

His the cam and shaft for vibrating the pan.

K L and K L are the inclined grooves for gathering the concentrated matter into the outlet or discharge orifice D.

M M is the frame on which the concentratin g-pan is supported, also the cam-shaft and driving-pulley.

Il is the rod on which the pau is suspended by some bearing over the center of it.

The operation of this machine is as follows: The bowl and pipeF at the lowest part of the groove should be filled with mercury until it runs out of the open end of the upright bent branch pipe. 'I then set the pan in motion, and admit a stream of water and sands into the bowl in the screen-plate, and it will ow even over the surface of the amal gamated disk f down through the small holes into the pan below, where the heavy particles will settle and be collected by the groovesK L, and`pass out at the opening D, while the surplus water and debris passes up the inclined corrugated bottom and is discharged through the journal of the pan B. The slide-gates E E must be adjusted so as to let any desired amount of cincentrated matter pass out. This is done by raising or lowering them. The speed of the vibration ofthe pan must be quick enough to prevent the sand from packing in A.

Having thus described my invention,'I do not claim, broadly, a vibrating disk and pan, neither the inclined grooves for collecting the mercury separately or the cam, for these have been used before; but

l do claim- 1. The arrangement and combination ofthe corrugated surface B,with the inclined grooves K L K L", or their equivalent, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. y

2. The opening D, adjustable gate E, ard bowl and tube F, or either of them, in combination with a vibratory or oscillating pan or concentrator, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

ZENAS WH EE LER. 

